The beginning of love

"Let those we love be perfectly themselves..." I love this quote from Thomas Merton. If we truly love somebody, then we love them because they are themselves and not because we think we can change them to be what we want them to be.

Thomas Merton is a Trappist monk who is a writer, a poet, a mystic, and a social activist. He is best known for his best selling, autobiographical work - "The Seven Storey Mountain." It is said that many trooped to the monasteries after reading his autobiography.

The photo I used here is a curled fern frond that I converted into a mirror image in Photoshop.

Desire is the starting point of all achievement

I find this quote from Napoleon Hill so true. If we don't have desire for anything that we are doing, then we will never succeed. We will only end up with something that we might not even be proud of.

The background picture is actually a fireworks photo that I played around with in Photoshop using various blend moods.

When man is with God

There are many ways of praying and I like how Karl Rahner describes what praying is.

Karl Rahner is a German Jesuit priest who has written so many books. His theological views are considered as very influential.

The photo is a sunrise scene of the Cordillera mountains here in the Philippines.

What Happiness Is

When I thought about the times in my life when I was happy, I tend to agree with Thomas Merton. Yes indeed, those happy times represented times when there was balance, order, rhythm and harmony. Maybe I should also add here, that we also experience happiness when we are at peace.

Thomas Merton is a Trappist monk who wrote many books.  I first encountered him when I read his book "The Seven Story Mountain." I love his deep insights about many things. You can read more about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton

true happiness

When are we truly happy?

I like the way this unknown author tells us what true happiness is. That it "comes from the feeling that our soul is expanding, that we are learning and applying something new that brings us closer to God."

The photo is a colorful butterfly as it softly alights on a leaf during its early morning round.

What lies within us

 I love this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. It reminds us that what is inside of us, our inner being, is truly more important that everything outside of us. Before focusing on externals, we must first focus on what is inside us.

The photo I used here is a solitary raindrop with a flower reflected inside it.

Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of my favorite writers. I first knew him as a poet, but then I discovered later his other writings as an essayist and lecturer. Several of his quotes resonate well with what I believe in.

grandchildren and grandparents

Let us celebrate grandparents' day with this quote from Mary H. Waldrip.

There is very little known about Mary H. Waldrip except that she was a British nurse.  However to her are credited a few inspirational quotes and this is one of them.

The photo is my grandson and I.